Current-regulating plug and socket



A. PAPINI.

CURRENT REGULATING PLUG AND SOCKET.

APPUCATION FILED OCT, I3, I919.

1,336,91 9p Patented. Apr. 13, EQZQL 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTONIO PAPINI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. MECKY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVAN IA.

CURRENT-REGULATING PLUG AND SOCKET.

Application filed October .13,

T 0 all whom it may c0ncern Be it known that I, ANTONIO PAPINI, a subject of the King of Italy, having resided in the United States one year last past and having declared my intention of becoming a citizen thereof-,now residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Current-Regulating Plug and Socket, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to electric regulatorsor rheostats, for use in connection with electric circuits designed both for lighting purposes and in connection with medical batteries or other devices, including dynamos and motors, to which electrical current is supplied and caused to'pass through a resistance material, such, for instance, as powdered carbon, or a composite resistance material composed of carbon as a conductor and of mineral WOOl or spun glass both comminuted or reduced to powder and mixed together and then commingled with the carbon, so asto form a more or less elastic ma terial adapted to be compressed to increase its conductivity, or loosened to increase its resistance, in order to increase or diminish the force or strength of the current passed through it, so as to regulate the brilliancy of the light or the potency of the battery or device to which the current is applied.

My invention relates more particularly to devices of the foregoing general character in which the resistance material within the regulator is controlled by the employment of a piston which carries an upper and a lower contact point and is moved by novel mechanism up and down to bring such contact points to or away from both an upper and a lower fixed contact within the circuit of the reggulator as an entirety.

roadly stated, my present invention comprehends a novel construction of currentregulating device in which the piston which acts upon the resistance material is controlled by a horizontally disposed but vertically moving compound-cam actuating device operated from'the exterior of the casing and adapted. to both move and retain the piston in either its up or its down position.

Further, my invention comprehends specific means for mounting the cam actuating device and connecting it with both the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 330,514.

body of the regulator and the wheel casing, a special construction of the regulator in connection with the radiator of a heat developing device, and a special circuit closing means, all of which, together with other features of my invention, are illustrated .in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, the particular subject-matter which I claim as novel being definitely expressed in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention,. I have shown iii the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my inven tion is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a central, vertical, sectional elevation of a regulator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents, in. side elevation, the piston removed from the casing of the regulator.

Fig. 3 represents a central, vertical, diametric section of the piston on the line 2-2 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 represents an under planview of the piston as represented in Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of the chain wheel, the lug carrying plate and its bushing removed from the regulator.

Fig. 6 represents a central, vertical, transverse section of the chain wheel, on line 55 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a top plan view of the slotted bushing removed from the lug plate.

Fig. 8 represents the bushing illustrated in Fig. 7, taken in section on line 77 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 represents a central, vertical, sectional elevation of the body of the casing, removed from the other elements which in assemblage with it embody my'invention.

Fig. 10 represents an under plan view of Fig. 12 represents a view in perspective of the lower fixed contact removed from the basal disk.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the upper body of the casing,

particularly illustrated in the assemblage of.

the parts in Fig. 1 and as removed in Fig. 9. It preferably consists of porcelain or other refractory material, and at its base is enlarged to form a hollow downwardly extending cylinder or casing 2 formed with an outwardl extending circumferential basal flange 3, Figs. 9 and 10, which is formed with radially disposed notches 4, to permit of the seatin of the casing upon the wheel casing esignated 28) between blocks (designated 48) upon said casing.

The body of the casing is axially apertured at 5, the lower portion of the aperture being enlarged as at6, see Fig. 9.

7 designates apertures for headed fastening screws 8, by means of which through oppositely disposed locking screws 9, see Fig. 1, the threaded shell plug 10 is secured to the body of the casing.

'11 designates a metallic piston adapted to have vertical movement within the hollow cylindric portion 2 of the body of the casing,

and to act upon the resistance material 12.

which is interposed between its upper surface and a metallic disk 13 which is held in place by a hollow bolt 14' connected to it, which passes through the axial aperture 5-6 in the body of the casing and is secured to the casing by a locking nut 15.

The bolt 14 has entered within its hollow interior the upper end of a vertically movable contact pin 16 which passes through an insulating sleeve 17 suitably packed as shown within the" hollow bolt 14 and mount ed upon and secured to the piston head 11, so as to be capable of vertical movement when the piston hascompleted its upward stroke so as to make contact with the hollow top 18 of the bolt 14, or its downward stroke so as to effect a contact with a fixed contact designated 34.

The contact pin 16 is locked in place upon thesleeve 17 by nuts upon said sleeve, and it passes down through the piston head and through the top of an inverted slotted metal cup 19 locked to said head, a vertical slot 20 of which passes over the lower fixed contact 34, so as to effect an electrical contact through the cup with the head 34 and prevent an otherwise possible rotation of the piston.

The piston 11 is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 as removed from the casing, and from these figures it will be observed thatit is composed of a horizontal piston head or plate to which thenumeral 11 is applied, and that at its periphery this plate extends vertically downward to form a circumferential vertically disposed circular wall 21, externally recessed or grooved at 22 to receive an asbestos or other packing which bears against the inner walls of the cylinder 2 of the casing body and in the up and down movement of the piston effects the necessary closure.

At given distances within its circumferential length this wall 21 is cut away to form opposing cam surfaces or edges, one of which, the left-hand in Fig. 2 is designated 23, and the other, the right-hand in said Fig. 2'is designated 24.

In the mounting of theparts these cam surfaces are superimposed upon, and in the up and down movement of the piston, acted against by a pair of lugs 25 (see Fi s. 5 and 6) which are formed upon a circu arinsulated plate 26 which is itself mounted upon, and so as to form a part of, a chain wheel 27 of any preferred construction and horizontally disposed within a horizontal wheel casing 28 suitably fastened between the basal flange 3 of the casing 2 and an insulating basal disk 29 to the under surface of which is secured a basal cover shell 30 of the regulator, within which but separated from it by a depending tubular dlaphragm 32, is contained the socket shell 31.

The assemblage and connection of the elements of the wheel casing 28, circular plate 26 which carries the lugs 25, basal disk 29, cover shell 30, socket shell 31, and tubular diaphragm 32, so far as fastening devices and insulating and other packing contrivances are concerned, are such as are familiar to those skilled in this art and as sufficiently illustrated, require no further description.

The chain wheel 27 is operated by a pull chain 33 a dependin end of which as it extends and depends rom its casing is illustrated in. Fig. 1. The lug-carrying plate 26 which with the cam-edge-provided piston 11, I forms the compound mechanism for raising and lowering the piston, is, of course, operated by the chain wheel.

Passing centrally through the basal disk 29 is a flat, fixed terminal or contact 34, F igs. 1 and 12, preferably flanged at its base, as shown, to rest upon the upper surface of the basal disk 29 and extending below said disk in the form of a screw 35 upon which is mounted a nut 36 to effect I formed with a slot 39 through which passes a'spring contact 40 to break the electric circuit as hereinafter explained.

Surrounding the outer edge of the circula r plate 26 is a channel within which is introduced a ring 47 of conducting material which is in constant wiping contact with the conductor 45.

44 designates a lamp filament, see Fig. 1, which is typical merely of a circuit which includes the shell plug 10, a conductor 45, conveniently introduced within a properly formed bore 49 within the wall of the casing, the lower contact point or terminal 46 of which conductor is adapted to make contact with aspring contact 40.

In the operation of the regulator, when the chain is pulled and the chain wheel rotated, the parts being assumed to be in the positionrepresented in Fig. 1, the action of the lugs in the rotary movement of the plate which carries them against the cam edges of the walls of the piston in its then position, will raise the piston, compress the resistance material and bring the contact pin 16 in contact with the fixed contact seat 18 in the hollow'bolt 14. When this has taken place the material will have been sufficiently compressed and the piston be at the upper end of its stroke. The circuit will then be established through the shell plug 10, the conductor 45, the slotted cup 19, the lower contact 34, the lamp filament 44, to the socket shell 31, of course passing through the light or other connection secured within said socket shell.

hen the piston under the reverse rotation of the wheel descends on its return stroke, the contact between the pin 16 and the contact seat 18 will be broken, and the current compelled to pass through the resistance material 12. At the end of the down ward stroke of the piston the spring contact 40 will have fallen in the slot 20 and current be interrupted.

' Under ordinary working conditions it may be further explained that the current from the hollow pin 14 and the disk 13 will pass through the resistance material 12, the piston head 11, the piston walls 21, the lower fixed contact 34, the nut 36, and the lamp filament 44, and that, reversely, the current, after passing through the lamp or other device energized through the filament, will pass through the socket shell 31, the bolt 50, thespring contact 40, the bushing 38 within the lug carrying plate 26, the conductlng ring 47 in said plate, the conductor 4 5, and the shell plug 10.

For the purpose of radiating the heat especially developed in the use of high wattage lamps, I provide a radiator conveniently composed of a 'cylindric metallic body 41 which encompasses the depending cylindric portion 2 of the casing 1 and is secured.

thereto by fastening screws 42, and which is itself provided with a plurality of outwardly extending annular radiating plates 43, of copper or other material, which are separated from themselves at predetermined distances and in their assemblage form effective radiating surfaces.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a current regulating plug and socket which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, I clai m:-

1. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, said piston being provided with a pressure upon said material, means for opcrating said cam from the exterior of the casing, and a radiator surrounding the casing.

3. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material, a 100 piston for varying the pressure upon said material, a vertically disposed central contact pin carried by the piston, a'fixed contact within the upper part of said casing with 'which the upper end of the contactpin is adapted to make contact, a fixed contact within the lower part of'said casing with which the lower end of the contact pin is adapted to make contact, horizontally disposed rotary cam mechanism for raising and lowering the piston, and means for operating said cam mechanism from the exterior of the casing.

4. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material. a piston for varying. the pressure upon said material, a vertically disposed central contact pin carried by the piston, a fixed contact within the upper part of said casing with which the upper end of said pin is adapted to make contact, a fixed contact within the lower part of said casing with which the lower end of the contact pin is adapted to make contact, horizontally disposed rotary mechanism for raising and lowering the piston, means for operating said mechanism from the exterior of the casing, and a radiator surrounding said casing.

5. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, and means for elevating or depressing the piston, which comprises a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the regulator and carrying upon its upper face lugs which engage with cam surfaces connected with and extending from the under surface of the piston.

(i. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, a vertically disposed central contact pin carried by the piston, a fixed contact within the upper part of said casing with which the upper end of the contact pin is adapted to make contact, a fixed contact within the lower part of said casing with which the lower end of the contact pin is adapted to make contact, and means for elevating and depressing the piston and contact pin, which comprises a rotary whee]. operated from the exterior of the regulator and carrying upon its upper face lugs whichengage with cam surfaces connected with and extending from the under surface of the piston.

7. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, means for elevating or depressing the piston, which comprises a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the regulator and carrying upon its upper face lugs which engage with cam surfaces connected with and extending from the under surface of the piston, and a radiator surrounding the easmg. a

8. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing aresistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, a vertically disposed central contact pin carried by the piston, a fixed 'contact within the upper part of said casing with which the upper end of the contact'pin is adapted to make contact, a fixed contact within the lower part of said casing with which the lower end of the contact pinis adapted to make contact, means for elevating and depressing the piston and contact pin which comprises a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the regulator and carrying upon its upper face lugs which engage with cam surfaces connected with and extending from the under surface of the piston, and a radiator surrounding the casmg.

5). In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material and an upper and a lower fixed contact point,

a piston for varying the pressure upon the resistance material, which carries a movable contact point, andmeans for elevating or depressing said piston, which comprises a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the regulator and provided upon its upper face with lugs which engage with cam surfaces connected with and extending from the under surface of the piston, whereb in the rotary movement of the wheel and ugs the piston is raised or lowered.

10. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing a resistance material and an upper and a lower fixed contact point, a compressing device for varying the pressure upon said material, comprising a piston carrying a double-ended contact pin, and a rotary, horizontally disposed, cam mechanism for raising and lowering the piston and its contact pin, to open or close an electric circuit of the device as an entirety.

11. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing within it a fixed contact within its upper portion and a fixed contact within its lower portion, -a resistance material within said casing, a piston carrying a movable contact pointadapted to make contact with either the upper or the lower fixed contact of the casing and as to its under surface provided with cam ways, a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the casing and carrying upon its upper surface lugs which are in contact with the cam ways of the piston, and an electric circuit of the device as an entirety.

12. In a device of the character stated, a casing containing within it a fixed contact within its upper portion and a fixed contact within its lower portion, a resistance mate-- rial within said casing, a piston carrying a movable contact point adapted to make contact with either the upper or the lower fixed contact of the casing and as to its under surface provided with cam ways and also with a cup shaped stop to limit its downward and prevent its rotary movement, a rotary wheel operated from the exterior of the casing and carrying'upon its upper surface lugs which are in contact with the camways of the piston, and an electric circuit of the device as an entirety.

13. In a current regulator of the class described, the following elements in combination: a casing containing "a resistance material, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, horizontally disposed cam mechanism operative from the exterior of the casing to raise and lower the piston, a slotted metal cup attached to the under surface of the piston to serve as a stop to limit the downward movement of the piston and as a device for preventing rotary movel'nent of the piston under the stress of the ram mechanism.

1 In a current regulator of the class described, in combination With a casing, a resistance material within said casing, a piston for varying the pressure upon said material, ahollow fixed bolt contact Within the upper body of the casing, a vertically disposed contact pin supported and carried by the piston, the upper end of which is entered Within the hollow interior of the bolt contact, andthe lower end of which extends below the piston, a fixed contact in alinement with the contact pin and secured to the base of the casing, a rotary actuating Wheel carrying lugs upon its upper surface and adapted to be operated from the exterior of the caslng, cam surfaces on the lower face of the piston in contact with the lugs, a shell plug, a socket shell, a spring contact connected With the basal inclosure of the casing, and an electric circuit which includes the hollow bolt contact, the contact pin, the lower fixed contact, the spring contact, and a conductor connective of the upper shell plug and the socket shell.

ANTONIO PAPINI. WVitnesses:

J OI-IN- A. WIEDERSHEIM, N. BUSSINGER. 

